Guide to Demonstratives in French

Demonstratives are words that are used to point to or indicate specific things or people. In French, there are demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. Demonstrative adjectives modify nouns, while demonstrative pronouns replace nouns. These words help us identify and distinguish between different objects, locations, or people.

Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Here are the different forms of demonstrative adjectives in French:

1. Ce / Cet (Masculine Singular) - Used before masculine singular nouns that start with a consonant sound.

   • Ce garçon (This boy)
   • Cet ami (This friend)

2. Cet (Masculine Singular) - Used before masculine singular nouns that start with a vowel sound.

   • Cet homme (This man)
   • Cet arbre (This tree)

3. Cette (Feminine Singular) - Used before feminine singular nouns.

   • Cette maison (This house)
   • Cette femme (This woman)

4. Ces (Plural) - Used before both masculine and feminine plural nouns.

   • Ces livres (These books)
   • Ces stylos (These pens)

Note: Demonstrative adjectives are always followed by a noun. They agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns replace the noun and, unlike demonstrative adjectives, they don't require a noun to follow. Here are the different forms of demonstrative pronouns in French:

1. Celui (Masculine Singular) - Used to refer to a specific masculine singular noun.

   • Ce livre est cher, mais celui-ci est bon marché (This book is expensive, but this one is cheap)

2. Celle (Feminine Singular) - Used to refer to a specific feminine singular noun.

   • Cette robe est belle, mais celle-là est encore plus belle (This dress is beautiful, but that one is even more beautiful)

3. Ceux (Masculine Plural) - Used to refer to specific masculine plural nouns.

   • Ces stylos sont bleus, mais ceux-ci sont rouges (These pens are blue, but these ones are red)

4. Celles (Feminine Plural) - Used to refer to specific feminine plural nouns.

   • Ces chaussures sont confortables, mais celles-là sont encore plus confortables (These shoes are comfortable, but those ones are even more comfortable)

Note: Demonstrative pronouns are used alone and do not require a noun to follow. They agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.

Usage Tips

1. Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns refer to specific items or people. Make sure to choose the appropriate form based on the gender and number of the noun.

2. Use demonstrative adjectives before the noun they modify and demonstrative pronouns to replace the noun.

3. Pay attention to the different forms of demonstrative adjectives for masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant sound (ce) or a vowel sound (cet).

4. When using demonstrative pronouns, use the appropriate form based on the gender and number of the noun being replaced.

5. Practice using demonstratives in different contexts to become more familiar with their usage and to develop a clear understanding of their meaning.

With these guidelines, you can confidently deploy demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in French to accurately point out and describe specific items or people. Remember to pay attention to the gender and number agreement for accurate usage.